Weird Breathing

[NKgirl2002]

Hello, I am caring for a friends guinea pig and I noticed that it has started breathing funny. It sounds almost as if the guinea pig is congested. He is still eating and drinking water. He has never been a very active pig, but he seems a little weaker than usually. Any idea what's wrong with him? I can't get him to a vet until late tomorrow if not the next day!

 

[DM030819]

Pigs have quite narrow airways so it could be a bit of hay or dust that's got up there and causing the noise. It tends to go away by itself.

But, if it doesn't and/or there's any sign of discharge from the nose then it's worth a vet visit as it could be a upper respiratory infection (URI).

In the meantime you could put a bowl of steaming water next to his cage, or take him into the bathroom with you and have a hot bath. Sometimes the steam can help dislodge whatever is up there.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, I am caring for a friends guinea pig and I noticed that it has started breathing funny. It sounds almost as if the guinea pig is congested. He is still eating and drinking water. He has never been a very active pig, but he seems a little weaker than usually. Any idea what's wrong with him? I can't get him to a vet until late tomorrow if not the next day!

Please have him seen as soon as you can if the breathing doesn't ease. URI (respiratory tract infection) and penumonia can kill; the sooner you can get on top of it the better the chance. Your vet also check the heart if the breathing is heaving.

What you can do until you can see a vet:
- place a bowl of steaming water next to the cage and keep it refreshed or steam up your shower and use that as an improvised nebuliser to help ease the breathing.

- switch to weighing daily at the same time and make sure that you have got everything you need to step in with syringe feeding and watering if necessary. Up to 80% of the daily food intake is hay, which you cannot control and which is often the first food group that is being dropped.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

- give some added vitamin C to boost the immune system

- see a vet or out-of-hours if possible asap as a life and death emergency at any if your piggy is suddenly very lethargic and floppy. Ask for a diuretic in case it is either pneumonia or congestive heart failure.

All the best!

 

[NKgirl2002]

The weird breathing seems to have died down a bit, but it's still there. As I said he's never been very active so I can't really tell if he's becoming less active. He is still eating and drinking normally. How long is acceptable until I take him to the vet?

 

[Wiebke]

The weird breathing seems to have died down a bit, but it's still there. As I said he's never been very active so I can't really tell if he's becoming less active. He is still eating and drinking normally. How long is acceptable until I take him to the vet?

Please try to get him seen ideally today or tomorrow and have his heart checked as well as his lungs.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Hi I can only repeat what @Wiebke has rightly said. Have you only just given him fresh hay? Or sprayed something near the cage? It could just be dust up his nose from hay- my piggy had that happen and he sounded like Darth Vader until the morning. Or it could be an allergy to something in your house like a deodorant or a detergent. try not to worry too much and I hope the vet visit goes well.

 

[NKgirl2002]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I took him to the vet today and he was given some medication. He seems to be doing better already after the first dose!

 

[LilyandGeorge]

Brilliant news, well done for being a top piggie sitter and getting him to the vet in good time! Let's hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.

 

[Wiebke]

That is great news! All the best for a good recovery. Please keep monitoring his weight daily at the same time as antibiotics are a second whammy for the digestive system and can sometimes also impact on the appetite. Cheap kitchen scales from the supermarket are perfectly fine.

 

[Rochester Piggy]

Any update?